Edna Purviance's bio

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Garen and Murray are back with number four of their talks about Garen's favorite Adventure Films. This time, they take us to Japan with the work of Akira Kurosawa 'Hidden Fortress' from 1958. This film is known as the one that inspired George Lucas for his Star War series.

If you haven't seen it, you should add to your must see list. Surprisingly funny and masterfully directed. This is a detailed talk, so filled with spoilers, but delightful chat about the film that inspired Garen to do this podcast series. LINK

Sunday July 31
4:00 PM - Members $6, non-members $8
Back by Popular Demand
Tom Wyrsch’s Remembering Playland at the Beach(2010), a full length documentary about San Francisco’s famous 10-acre seaside amusement park located next to Ocean Beach.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

In 1966, I didn't know about Charlie Chaplin, but I did know Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Band. My father would pump quarters into the cafe table side juke box and play 'Whipped Cream' many times on a Friday night dinner out. Being a Charlie Chaplin fan now, wonderful to see this charming tribute by Herb Alpert and the band, on the Charlie Chaplin Studio lot. (Thanks to the Kansas Silent Film Festival for the link.) Enjoy!

Monday, June 27, 2011

July 2, 2011- Turner Classic Movies will celebrate the 4th of July weekend with a viewing of Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' on this week's The Essentials with Alec Baldwin and Robert Osborne. Also mark your calender for a full day of Paulette Goddard, August 2, as part of 2011 'Summer Under the Stars' on TCM.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

This week's Adventure Films with Garen and Murray Ewing, brings us to the west with Humphrey Bograt, Walter Huston and Tim Holt in 'The Treasure of Sierra Madre.' Lively chat about this true classic. Link to Adventure Films program.

After enjoying the program, and like to learn more, here is a link to 'Movies on the Radio' with David Garland. Garland spends a couple of evenings with the music of Max Steiner. Program one includes scores from Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, Cimarron and more. Program twoincludes scores from King Kong, The Searchers, The Fountainhead and much more... Makes for an enjoyable evening of listening with the Ewings and Garland.

For more about the festival: link to official site here. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who created a silent film for 2011 event. It has come along way from last year and certainly looking forward to more years to come.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

September 23-25, 2011, the Denver Silent Film Festival will be held at the King Center, Auraria Campus, at University of Colorado in Denver. This is their first festival. The program will open with Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance in 'The Kid' and 'The Immigrant'. More details to come.

Thursday, June 09, 2011

June 11, 2011 - Portland, Oregon - Youth Silent Film Festival
The finalists films will be awarded this weekend. Special report from KGW. Last year, the results were available for viewing, after the event.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Time for a nice cup of tea and listen to Garen's second adventure film episode, with his brother Murray Ewing, this time covering'The Man Who Would be King'(1975).

What makes this even more insightful, is Garen's longtime interest, and research, into the 1879-1880 Afghan war. He added some fascinating bits from his own carefully done research into today's program. (Learn more from Garen's The Second Anglo-Afghan Warwebsite.)

While I have not seen this film in a while, they peaked my interest in seeing again. It does appear on TCM, but not often enough, so planning to get my own copy. Just click in the image and enjoy! Today's program 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Update: During today's program the film 'A Touch of Zen' was mentioned. It's on my must find and see list, as this clip shows... (Thanks for the mention!)

Friday, June 03, 2011

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California, is looking for your vote to help them win a $25,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation 'THIS PLACE MATTER.' If your not a member, you can vote by registering with the trust. You don't have to be a paid member to help. Just takes a few minutes to help! Thanks... LINK

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Yesterday, I had great fun listening to "The Adventure Films Podcast." Created by Garen and his brother Murray Ewing, it is a casual conversation about their love for films. As Garen clearly points out, it's not about historical facts, but about why they love these selected films.

With original music by Murray Ewing, the podcast begins with the 1933 'King Kong' as Garen and Murray share their thoughts about the story, characters, and even some thoughts on the re-make. For me, it was like listening to them in my living room, chatting about the film. A very rare treat.

The brothers will be talking about ten of Garen's favorite adventure films, with a new one planned for each week. These will included: Lawrence of Arabia, Lost Horizon, Hidden Fortress, The Treasure of Sierra Madre, She and more...

I'm certainly looking forward to each program, and I hope you will head over and take a listen too. Big thanks for doing this! LINK

UPDATE EDIT: Here is a BFI interview with Ray Harryhausen, as he remembers his experience of ''King Kong' for the first time. LINK

Latest updates on Edna Purviance's sites, related Charlie Chaplin news and items of interest, with a sampling of my other interests. Currently working on Edna's family bio. Draft is finished, and onto the editor stage. More to come.

Charlie Chaplin DVDs

Comparison Review of the Mutual DVD Collections

Charlie Chaplin Books

Collecting Chaplin books? Check out our list and database

Hollywood Series

Kevin Brownlow and David Gill - While still available on VHS from private collections, The Hollywood Series Collection SHOULD BE on DVD, but due to copyrights, controlled by studios, etc. it is being held-up. Great series that should be saved.

Adel Gance's Napoléon and Revisiting England

Morgan vs. Morgan

Finding the alias 'Morgan Hill'

The Sea Gull "A Woman of the Sea" by Linda Wada - Charlie Chaplin's lost film production - 1926

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR DETAILS! Film starring Edna Purviance, story and direction by Josef von Sternberg: "The look of the film, revealed in these marvellous photographs, makes it all the more tragic that it was destroyed." - Kevin Brownlow, Silent Film Historian, London

Adventure Films - 2014 WAR Series

with Garen & Murray Ewing discuss 10 war films for this latest series.

Lita Hill: Apr. 1933-Jan. 2008

Edna Purviance's Grand Niece has died - see January 21, 2008 post. About Lita's interview shown in Hollywood: "...remarkable interviews with Edna's great niece, herself quite the interesting lady. A nontraditional view of Edna, who did NOT pine away and die after her affair with Chaplin ended, but went out and lived a good full life and married the man of her dreams. I hope this one gets some walking money."

Discovered Films with Edna!

Edna Purviance's Private Life! See January 17th, 2007 special post!

Jack Squire's films part of FDR Documentary

PBS Producer, John Schwally, will be using some of Jack Squire's discovered films for upcoming documentary about FDR. (Jack was Edna's husband.)